Torch



v 1,639,450 Aug. 16, c. L. AL

TORCH Filed Nov. 25, 1924 mnnnn l/V I/E IV T OR y W W Y 1; rfom wfrsPatented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES- PATENT O FICE.

CHARLES L. BASTIAN AND JULIUS APSIT, or onrcaeo, ILLINOIS, .essrenons'1'0 rim 4 BAsrIAN BLESSING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, rumors, A, conrom'rronor 111.1-

'roncn.

Application filed November 25, 1924. Serial No. 752,092.

This invention is an improvement in heating or welding torches andrelates more particularly to that type in. which there are providedindependently adjustable valves for controlling the combustible andcombustion supporting ases to regulate the size and character of 16flame, and separate means for turning on and off both gases wlthoutdisturbing the adjustment or relative setting of said valves;

With a torch of this type the operator may readily shut off both gasesand conserve the supply thereofwhenever there is a brief intervalbetween successive heating or welding operations, and he may readilyturn on both gases for use and obtain the fpreviously determined sizeand character of ame without requiring time or efl'ort to readjust. Forthis purpose there is provided a second pair of valves of a type whichmay be quickly opened or closed and provided with means for operatingthem simultaneously or in succession.

Among the important objects of our invention are the following:

To position all of the valves outside of the handle, whereby we avoidall danger of leakage of gas past thepackings to the interior of thehandle and the danger of explosion therein; to position all of thevalves of the torch as far as conveniently possible from the heat oftheflame; to so mount all the valves that they are conveniently accessiblefor cleaning, repairing or replacement, or for adjustment of thepackings thereof; to so design the actuating mechanism for the auxiliaryor shut-off valves that it may be conveniently operated by the thumb of,the hand holding the torch, may be mechanically retained in openposition, and does not interfere with the proper handling or firmgrasping of the torch or rendering the latter unsightly.

As one important feature the auxiliary valves are mounted in a valveblock at the rear end of the torch between the needle valves and thehandle, and are actuated by a lever which extends lengthwise of thehandle and inside of the latter to the front end of the grip ing portionwhere a small part is exposed or actuation. Thus the proper and' firmgras ing or holding of the torch is not interfere with by the valveactuating mechanism, and the gripping of the handle doesnot operate toopen the valves.

Other objects and important features will be pointed out hereinafter, orwill be apparent from a consideration of the preferred form illustratedinthe accompanying drawings.

In these drawings I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a torch embodying ourinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rear or handle portion.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the shank portion.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig.1

Fig. 5' is a longitudinalsection on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and i 4 Figs.6 and 7 are end views looking in opposite directions, at the goose-necktip and shank at their abutting ends.

In the construction illustrated in the accompanying' drawings there is amain valve block 10 and a pair of tubes 11 and 12 extending therefrom toa shank 13. A tubular handle 14 is connected to the forward end of theblock 10 and the rear end of the shank 13 so as to provide a gripportion, and to conceal the two tubes 11 and 12. A gooseneck tip 15 isdetachably secured to the end of the shank by a union 16 and the base ofthe tip is providedwith a mixing chamber 17 in which the gases arebrought together after delivery through the two tubes 11 and latterleads to the passage 18 which terminates in an annular groove 22 in theend of the shank and opposite to the head end of the tip. The oxygenpassage 21 leads to the upper tube 12 and. the passage 19. The

latter is inclined so-as to register with the central passage and mixingchamber of the tip. The head of the tip has passages 23 leading from thegroove 22 to the mixing chamber.

In our improved construction the valve ion block carries four valves,two for each passage. One valve for each passage serves for theadjustment or regulation of the flame and is preferably of the needlevalve type, while the other valve for each passage is preferably of thespring pressed poppet type. The valve block has a pair ofabranches 24and 25 towhich hose from the two sources of gas may be connected, and inwhich are the passages 20 and 21. In these branches are mounted the twoneedle valves 26 and '27, and by means of which the size and characterof the flame may be regulated or the gas completely shut off when the.torch is laid aside for other than a brief interval. As a convenience inmanufacture, the valves 26 and, 27 are preferablyin short nipples whichare separately formed and thereafter brazed or otherwise permanentlysecured to the body of the valve block.

The body of the valve block has therein a pair of poppet valves 28 and29 for controlling the gas flow through the two passages 20 and 21.These are movable in a direction at right angles to the general lengthof the torch and in a vertical direction when the torch is held in theusual approx mately horizontal welding position. The valve seat for eachvalve is formed in the valve block, while the valve itself is mounted ina chamber 30 at the lower side of the valve block.

The chamber is closed at its lower end by a cap 31 and within thechamber is a spring 32 for holding the valve to its seat. Each valve hasa valve stem 33 the upper side of the valve block and through a packing34 in a chamber formed in the block. This packing may be adjusted by agland nut 35 threaded into the valve block, and serving as a guide forthe valve stem. The two passages 20 and 21 lead to the two chambers 30below the valves, and lead from above the valve seats to the two tubesin the handle. It will be noted that by removing the. caps 31 the valvesmay be dropped out for replacement or repair, and that the packmg may betightened or replaced by removing thegland nuts 35 without removing the.

caps 31 or the valves.

For operating the two poppet valves 28, 29 simultaneously there isprovided a lever '36 pivoted to a lug 37 on the valve block. The leverhas laterally projecting lugs 38 engaging with the outer ends of the twovalve stems 33', and beyond these stems the lever extends downwardly andforwardly through an aperture in the handle 14. The front end of thelever 36 is adjacent to the front end of the tubular handle 14, and isthere provided with an actuating member in the form of apush button 39.This is pivoted to the lever and extends upwardly through an aperture inthe handle so that the upper end may be easily forced inwardly bypressure of the thumb of the hand gripping the the torch aside for abrief projecting through,

handle 14. The member 39 is preferably provided with a notch 40 whichmay receive a portion of the wall of the tubular handle at the frontedge of the'aperture through which the member '39 extends. j, Thus byprcssingthe member 39 inwardly, the lever 36 will act onthe two valves28 and 29 to open them, and by then'swinging the member 39 forwardly toa slight extent the wall of the handle will enter the notch 40, and themember will be locked in its inner position and against the action ofthe valve springs In using the torch the operator first opens the twopoppet on shut-oft valves by pressure on.tl1e actuating member 39, andlocks the valves in open position. The valves 26 and 27 are thenopenedito the proper extent to give the desired shape and character offlame. If the operator desires to lay interval he may push back slightlyon the member 39 so as to release the latter, and the valves 28 and 29will instantly close to shut off both gases. When he desires to againuse the torch he may simultaneously open both valves by pressure on theactuating member 39, and upon lighting the issuing gases the flame willbe of the previously determined character and size, inasmuch as thecarefully adjusted positioning of the valves 26 and 27 has not beendisturbed.

In our improved construction it-will be noted that all four of thevalves are grouped together, that they are at the maximum convenientdistance from the heat of the flame, and that all of them are outside ofthe tubular handle, whereby any leakage past the packing or from thevalve chambers, will be directly to the atmosphere rather than to theinterior of the handle Where it is liable to explode and injure theoperator.

The actuating lever 36 extends from the gear of the hand-grippingportion of the handle to the front thereof, whereby the valvespositioned at the may be conveniently operated by the thumb of the handholding the torch. The main rear of the handle portion of the lever,being inside of the han- I .for each passage, and positioned betweensaid needle valves and said handle but out-- side of the latter, and anoperating member for said shut-off valves pivoted to said valve blockoutside of said handle and between said needle valves and said shut-oilvalves extending lengthwise of and within said handle, and having anactuating part outside of the handle adjacent to the front end of thelatter.

2. A torch having a tubular handle, a

valve block at the rear end thereof, havlng two separate passagestherethrough, separate shut-ofi' valves in said valve block outside ofsaid handle for controlling said passages, a pair of tubes secured tosaid Valve block and extending lengthwise through said handle, a shanksecured to the front end of said tubes and supporting the front end ofsaid handle, and having a pair of passages therethrough, and anoperating member for said valves, extending lengthwise of and withinsaid handle, and having an actuating part at the front end of saidhandle, said part being pivotally supported and provided with a notchfor locking engagement with the wall of the handle.

3. A torch having a valve block, a pair of valves therein, a pair oftubes extending from said valve block, a shank having a pair of passagesand secured to the front ends of said tubes, a tubular handle supportedby said valve block-and said shank and block, outside of said handle,extending lengthwise of and within said handle, and having an actuatingpart pivoted to said member and projecting radially through said handleat the front end of the latter, said part being provided with a notchfor locking handle.

4. A torch having a tubular handle, a valve block at the rear endthereof, having two separate passages therethrough, separate shut-offvalves in said valve block outside of said handle for controlling saidpas-.

sages, a pair of tubes secured to said valve block and extendinglengthwise through said handle and an operating member for said valves,said member being pivoted to said valve block outside of said handle,and extending lengthwise of and within said handle, and having anactuating part at the front end of said handle, said part beingpivotally supported and provided with a notch for locking engagementwith the wall of the handle.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Goo and State of Illinois, this'22ndday of November, A. D. 1924.

CHARLES L. JBASTIAN. JULIUS APSIT.

engagement with the wall of the

